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Thursday, May 30, 2013

Chemical Bandits in the Office

The hot pink sticky note

It was a typical Wednesday morning. I marched into
work ready to tackle whatever odd, marine- related thing may come at me. Last
week, a molting Elephant Seal, eager for a spot on the front page of The Leader,
hauled out on Water Street. Earlier this week, a Humbolt Squid and Big Skate
washed up, ready for tissue sampling. And today? An innocent looking box of
pencils placed neatly on my desk bearing a hot pink sticky note. It read, “This
seems bizarre – Chrissy” with an arrow pointing to a tiny icon at the bottom of
the pencil box. The label looked like this:

My second thought: I vaguely remember an antimicrobial
chemical guide by the Environmental Working Group[1]. I
recalled how it outlined problems associated with chemicals like these.

Subsequently, a rapid stream of questions and
concerns began rolling through my mind like successive frames of an old motion
picture. Were these the same pencils we use
in our education programs at the PTMSC? The same pencils we give to students
when teaching about toxic chemicals and their effects on humans and the marine
environment? Something was VERY wrong with this picture, and I knew some toxics
investigation was in order!

Microban investigation
results

It is invisible, inconspicuous, and dangerous. Microban, also
known as the chemical Triclosan[2], is a
chemical found in more places than anyone would like. Upon interrogating Google
about this chemical bandit, I arrived at page after lengthy page of articles,
blogs, reports, and images. I found text like, “Triclosan is not currently known to be hazardous to humans[3]”
and “Triclosan is linked to liver and inhalation toxicity, and low levels of
triclosan may disrupt thyroid function.[4]” Well, which one was true? What made my investigation even more
complicated was this statement from the USFDA (United State Food and Drug
Administration): “[the] FDA does not have sufficient safety
evidence to recommend changing consumer use of products that contain triclosan
at this time.” What do they mean by “not sufficient safety evidence?”

Continuing on my quest for answers, I targeted the
manufacturers of the suspicious pencils and the chemical Mircroban (aka-
triclosan). I was sent on a convoluted cyber ride of answers:

“Hi Jamie,

Thank you for your interest in Microban. Please contact
Ticonderoga to learn about the Microban additives they use in their product.”

“Jamie –

Please contact the manufacturers of Microban to find out
more information about the chemicals in their products.”

Well, thanks a lot manufacturers! That makes
everything MUCH clearer…

After expressing
my frustrations to the PTMSC volunteers, I was guided in some legitimate
directions. Each morning I arrived at my desk to find helpful leads for my
investigation – Material Safety Data Sheets[5],
articles from local and national papers, and emails with personal sentiments
about Microban’s prevalence in consumer products – all offered by our dedicated
volunteers. I realized that finding the right answers on this topic was like
navigating a deceptive labyrinth. I was motivated to make sense of it all – to
offer guidance to others who shared my frustrations.

Decoding text on toxics

During my investigation, I found myself
skeptical of phrases like, “It is not currently known to be toxic to humans.” Does that necessarily mean that it is known to
be safe to humans? Statements about
chemicals not being known as toxic are about as useful as statements such as
“Currently, we know nothing about this chemical.” I recalled how important it
is to be critical of your sources so as to not be misled by vague claims.

Statements about toxicity of chemicals
should not be assumed as entirely truthful. Consider who is making the
statement. Non-profits, government organizations, private researchers, retailers,
manufacturers, and individuals all have something to say about toxics. It’s
important to consider what motives they may have, as well as what perspective they
come from. Weighing these factors will help you remain unbiased while working
to get to the bottom of things. Learn more about issues like this with a FREE copy of the PTMSC's Guide to Toxics

Don’t assume a product is toxic-free. I
was caught in this act when researching Triclosan. While perusing resources, I
felt like Triclosan was popping up in practically everything. I never expected to find the chemical in
these common products I used daily:

Soap and dishwashing
liquid

Towels

Mattresses

Toothbrushes

Sponges

Phones

Shoes

Cutting boards

Clothing and fabrics

Toys

Plastic food
containers and kitchenware

Additionally, the manufacturers of Microban list 60
categories of consumer goods that include their antimicrobial technology.

What pencils are we using now?

In 2012 the USFDA reported, “At this
time, FDA does not have evidence that triclosan added to antibacterial soaps
and body washes provides extra health benefits over soap and water.” If this is
the case, then this statement begs the question – Why is it added to nearly all
commercial antibacterial soaps? After hours of research, I don’t have a clear
answer. For this reason, in addition to rigorous science linking Triclosan to
adverse health effects in marine life and animals, the PTMSC has chosen to
invest in different pencils. We now purchase our pencils for staff and students
from a west coast company called Forest Choice. Toxic free and committed to
conservative management of resources, we felt this company was a better vote
with our dollar.

Unfortunately, this isn’t the first
case of inconspicuous toxics we’ve come across at the PTMSC. Staff has been
rethinking our choices in electronics, new flooring materials, dry erase
markers vs. chalk boards, pens, notebooks, and many others. In the spirit of
reducing our exposure to and consumption of toxics, and despite the road blocks
along the way, we are trying to walk the walk. We are trying to be toxic free.
We may not succeed all the time, but we are working to educate ourselves and
others. We are demanding a safer, healthier environment.

Jamie Landry
is the Citizen Science Coordinator at the Port Townsend Marine Science Center
and a resident of Port Townsend, WA. She
works closely with The Toxics Project – an effort by PTMSC to empower people
with knowledge and resources to fight for their health, and the health of the
marine environment. Please visit our exhibits and be inspired to demand a
safer, healthier environment.

[3]
Quote by US Food and Drug Administration, the US federal agency responsible for
“Protecting and Promoting Health”

[4]
Quote by the EWG, a trusted and well-established non-profit that advocates for
a healthier environment by addressing issues surrounding the ubiquitous nature
of toxic chemicals in the man-made and natural environments.

[5]
Referred to as an MSDS and publically available online, they offer information
about hazards, recommended first aid and personal protection measures, physical
and chemical properties, and what is most important to consumers –
toxicological information.